West Ham United v Arsenal: live
Follow live, minute-by-minute commentary of the Premier League game between West Ham United and Arsenal at Upton Park on Saturday Jan 15 2011, kick-off 17.30 GMT.
PREVIEW
LIVE
WEST HAM
0 - 3
FT
ARSENAL
Saturday, January 15 17:30
Premier League
Upton Park
(HT 0-2)
van Persie (13, 77)
Walcott (41)
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Yellow peril: Robin van Persie celebrates giving Arsenal the lead against West ham United Photo: AP
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A friendly word: Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger shows solidarity with his West ham counterpart Avram Grant ahead of the match Photo: GETTY IMAGES
5:00PM GMT 15 Jan 2011
COMMENTARY
KEY MOMENTS
60000
2011-01-15 19:25:20.0
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/premier-league/8257542/West-Ham-United-v-Arsenal-live.html?service=artBody
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Email Thom Gibbs with who you'd like to see replace Avram Grant at West Ham, topical anagrams and good-natured abuse.
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FULL TIME
That's it. Thank goodness for that. Avram Grant looks very sad. His West Ham side were awful, enforcing themselves on the game for no more than five minutes during the 90. No obvious protest from the West Ham fans about their farcical managerial situation, just some half-hearted boos for an insipid performance. Arsenal were tremendous and could have had 10 if they'd been trying. Over and out from me, and goodbye Uncle Avram.
90+1 min: Jon Champion has just pronounced "Hitzlsperger", as in the crocked West Ham midfielder Thomas, as "Hits-all-burger". By his own high standards he'll be disappointed with that.
90 min: Three added minutes will be played.
89 min: Wilshere has far too much time to get a shot at goal. Green saves.
88 min: Wayne Bridge, to cap an absolutely miserable afternoon, has cramp and is being led off by West Ham's physio to be humanely destroyed. Oh sorry, no, he's just being substituted for Frank Nouble.
87 min: Nasri's jinking run takes him past five West Ham defenders, but his shot is out for a corner. Nasri is substituted moments later, for Gibbs, and it's Arshavin on for Walcott.
86 min: This game has been over for a long time. I'm surprised ESPN haven't sent Chris Waddle home early. I feel sorry for West Ham. They look so listless, so desperately short of quality and motivation. I think Avram Grant should punch ever one of his players in the face as they file down the tunnel in four minutes time. A lovely leaving present.
82 min: Walcott fails to find Van Persie in the middle, with the Ducthman screaming for the ball and a chance for his hat trick.
80 min: Denilson on for Fabregas, who has been imperious.
79 min: At least six West Ham fans are singing "4-3, we're gonna win 4-3." No you're not, chaps. No you're not.
77 min: GOAL!!! West Ham 0 Arsenal 3 (Van Persie)
Low and powerful into the bottom left. Green goes the right way but can't do anything about it. Can the last West Ham fan to leave Upton Park please turn off the lights?
76 min: PENALTY!! (Arsenal)
Silly challenge from Bridge as Walcott got into the box. No question about that. Horrible debut for Bridge, who's looked way off the pace.
75 min: ESPN have just showed three different spectators that are fast asleep. That's as accurate a summary of this half as I can think of.
72 min: Genuinely nothing to report. West Ham's players look like they want to go gome.
68 min: This is a slow and tiresome game. Arsenal are knocking it about and carving West Ham open almost at will. Van Persie gets a low ball to the near post, but Walcott, under pressure, can only stab the ball out for a goal kick.
65 min: Boa Morte's through ball finds Hines who battles past Eboue in the box. He never really gets the ball under control and is eventually muscled out of possession by three Arsenal defenders. Good effort from the youngster, though, and appreciated by the home support who must not be having a very pleasant time at all.
64 min: Pablo Barrera is on for Freddie Sears. The world continues to turn.
61 min: Sears' mishit cross takes everyone by surpsie and Szczesny does well to tip it behind from a corner. Cole's unconventional header has the Arsenal keeper scrambling again, but he's able to nullify the threat at the second time of asking.
59 min: Wilshere fouled as he was sizing up a pass into the box. Boa Morte is booked. Van Persie shaping to take the free kick, again about 25 yards out, but slightly to the right hand side of the goal. Van Persie's shot is defelcted off Upson for a corner.
55 min: After what must be 40 consecutive Arsenal passes Walcott loses patience and decides to shoot. His low attempt is stopped by Green.
52 min: It's not a bad shot, spinning just wide of the left hand side post after taking a deflection off Van Persie. The corner is cleared to Faubert, whose optimistic shot is charged down.
51 min: West Ham have a free kick. Dead centre and about 22 yards from goal. It'll be Bridge to take it. Uh-oh.
49 min: Walcott earns Arsenal a corner after trading passes with Alex Song and playing the ball off Bridge. It eventually reaches Clichy on the other side whose cross is too powerful. Moments later Van Persie hits a rising shot over the bar. Arsenal bullying West Ham here.
48 min: Kevin Garside on Twitter: "Graham Gooch in the Press Box at West Ham. Needs a daddy hundred from his team. #afc beating #whufc at a canter"
47 min: A wonderful stat from the first half via ESPN's anorak department: Cesc Fabregas touched the ball more than the entire West Ham midfield in the first half.
46 min: West Ham begin the second half with a kick off, as is the tradition.
HALF TIME
45+2 min: Green claims the corner without much difficulty.
45+1 min: Djourou somehow makes it into the box and towards Green. The West Ham keeper is out to save the ball, with his face. He'll get some treatment before Arsenal can take their corner.
45 min: Two minutes of added time have indicated on a sophisticated electronic number display board.
44 min: West Ham's corner comes to nothing. Chris Waddle, ESPN co-commentator is adamant that Carlton Cole should have scored. I think that's a little harsh, but then I'm terrible at heading a football and always feel a little cruel criticising anyone else's ability in the air.
43 min: Wowzers, West Ham almost score! Sears, who's looked bright and gifted on the two or three occasions he's touched the ball, puts in a rasping cross for Cole. He makes good contact, but it's also into the path of Koscielny who gets a touch, and it's out for a corner.
41 min: GOAL!!! West Ham 0 Arsenal 2 (Walcott)
Wayne Bridge: no. Van Persie pulls the ball back from the touchline against the odds, Theo Walcott completely evades his marker and finishes emphatically from six yards, slamming the ball into the roof of the net. Game over.
38 min: Kovac shepherds the ball out of play before the referee amusingly awards a corner, Tomkins having got a minor touch as the ball headed towards the touchline. Nasri's delivery comes to nothing.
35 min: West Ham's supporters have something to cheer about as Carlton Cole... charges down a Djourou clearance and concedes a throw in. You've got to take your thrills where you can get them.
32 min: Van Persie so unlucky to not double his tally. His shot comes off the inside of the post and out again after Nasri had played him in with barely-believable deftness and speed. Arsenal are looking tremendous going forward.
30 min: West Ham aren't doing a bad job of defending when they've got their lines set, but as soon as something unexpected happens it's chaos. A neat Arsenal move results in a looping high ball into the box which isn't attacked by one West Ham defenders. Not good enough.
29 min: Some textbook over-intricate play from Arsenal who sweep forward at speed, but play passes over such a short distance when approaching the box that it's like a very controlled version of pinball. The ball eventually ends at Song's feet, and his shot is deflected. Green does well to catch it high to his right.
26 min: It's not just West Ham looking leaky at the back, a simple quick throw almost gives Cole a chance as Song is caught napping and Djourou nowhere to be seen. Arsenal's superiority is otherwise so evident that there's a danger of complacency. Which is never a great idea when you're only 1-0 up.
24 min: Wayne Bridge is not having a great debut. He passes it straight to Fabregas under only minor pressure, but Arsenal can't eke out a chance.
22 min: Afwful backpass from Djourou lets in Cole, but his shot hits Szczensy. Hines' follow up is wildly high and wide.
21 min: West Ham - they're not good, are they? Eboue ghosts past Hines and Cole as if they're not there, in his own half. Moments earlier Hines, who I would describe as "raw" was easily muscled off the ball by Song.
20 min: Mark Noble trudges off with an invisible injury and it's Luis Boa Morte on in his place.
19 min: Walcott's pace earns him a one-on-one against Green, but he scuffs the shot pathetically into the keeper's arms.
18 min: "It's so quiet, it's so quiet, it's quiet: Upton Park" sing the Arsenal fans to the tune of Millwall's timeless classic "No-one likes us". That's a bit rich coming from supporters who watch their football at the Emirates Shhhhhhhtadium.
17 min: Arsenal already looking to toy with their opponents. Song and Nasri turn on the feints and shimmies tap and almost create an opening. Fabregas' long shot 30 seconds later is just wide of the post.
15 min: Faubert is booked for a pretty nasty tackle on Fabregas on the far touchline. Feet off floor + worrying scissors-like configuration of legs = naughty.
13 min: GOAL!! West Ham 0 Arsenal 1 (Van Persie)
Walcott is allowed approximately eight light years to get a cross in as Bridge stands off him. Nasri lets the ball run through his legs and onto the right foot of Van Persie, whose inch perfect finish into the bottom corner gave Green no chance. Game over?
12 min: A lovely volleyed backheel flick from Sears sets Hines away down the left hand side, and past the full back. His cross is cleared for a corner. Noble's delivery is nodded away at the far post.
10 min: Wilshere misjudges a ball to Walcott, playing it behind him rather than into the huge chasm that's opened up between West Ham's left back position and the goal. It's out for a throw.
8 min: Van Persie tees up Nasri from a free kick about 40 yards out. He strikes it wickedly and it takes a couple of minor deflections on its way through to Rob Green, who uncharacteristically holds the ball rather than letting it squirm under him.
7 min: Decent spell from West Ham who seem to have weathered Arsenal's early storm and are doing a good job of pressing in midfield.
5 min: Sears, constricted like an eager spring, gets a volley away some 20 yards from goal. It's well charged down by the Arsenal defence.
4 min: Walcott, running forward at pace and looking dangerous.... falls over. Lovely stuff.
3 min: Van Persie's free kick is straight at the wall. The ball eventually comes high into the box and Van Persie does well to het his head to it. Faubert stretches out a leg to nick the ball off Fabregas' head.
2 min: Eboue's harmless cross is knocked behind for a needless corner by Faubert. Shortly afterwards Fabregas wins a free kick 30 yards out.
1 min: Arsenal, in their yellow and maroon away kit, get us underway.
17:28: If ESPN screen one more advert for a certain gritty Scottish drama which is now in cinemas I might have a little cry.
17:25: Jon Champion, commentating for ESPN is waxing lyrical about the good old days at West Ham, when they never changed their manager, nothing ever went wrong, they won every game, all this round here was fields etc. The teams are out of the tunnel and we're approaching kick off.
17:20: Carlton Cole is the only West Ham player in their team to have ever scored a goal aganist Arsenal. Feeling optimistic, West Ham fans? Arsense Wenger's pre-match wall o'adverts interview is as cagey and pointless as you'd expect. "Our main priority is the championship," he says. I think he means winning the Premier League rather than securing passage into the second tier.
17:12: And here come the teams: (not out of the tunnel, you understand. Just a list of who's playing)
West Ham (4-5-1): Green; Faubert, Tomkins, Upson, Bridge; Spector, Kovac, Noble, Sears, Hines; Cole.
Subs: Boffin, Reid, Gabbidon, Barrera, Boa Morte, McCarthy, Nouble.
Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Szczesny; Eboue, Djourou, Koscielny, Clichy; Song, Wilshere; Fabregas; Walcott, Nasri; van Persie.
Subs: Shea, Vela, Denilson, Arshavin, Gibbs, Chamakh, Bendtner.
Referee: Andre Marriner (W Midlands)
No Scott Parker for the home side which has got to be a A Worry. Bacary Sagna serves the final game of his three match suspension.
17:05: ESPN's roving reporter is interviewing a pair of West Ham fans with suspiciously West Country accents, asking their opinions on the Grant / O'Neill switcheroo. "I reckon he's had his time and.... time to go," says David. You can't buy that sort of incisive analysis.
17:00: Good afternoon, and welcome to farewell lap of Avram Grant's West Ham United career. All the pre-match talk has been about Grant's supposed nailed-on departure following it, which does dampen the mood somewhat. What's the point in sending his side out to do anything other than lose if Karen Brady and her oddly-dressed millionaire friends have already decided he's out afterwards?
Arsenal are the visitors to the Boelyn Ground (why does nobody call it that any more?) and are on the back of a truly insipid performance in the League Cup at Ipswich on Wednesday with a more-or-less full-strength side.
It will be interesting to see what happens with Uncle Avram if he can pull off a shock this afternoon. I'm just hoping for public weeping.
Teams to follow, get your emails to me here.
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PREVIEW
Saturday, January 15
West Ham United v Arsenal
Upton Park
Kick-off: 17.30 GMT
TV: Live, ESPN. Highlights, BBC1 Match of the Day
TALE OF THE GAME:
Avram Grant has brought dignity to the role of dead man walking.
Victory over Birmingham in the first leg of the League Cup semi-final prolonged his stay. He is unlikely to survive defeat on Saturday.
Arsenal will not be the supine force they were in losing to Ipswich at Portman Road.
Samir Nasri is back to fire the Gunners. Arsenal’s centre-back crisis offers West Ham a glimmer but can they keep Arsenal out? Think not.
TEAM NEWS:
Arsenal will be without goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski (shoulder) for Saturday's Premier League trip to West Ham United, where Wojciech Szczesny will again deputise.
Centre-back Sebastien Squillaci (hamstring) is also out and right-back Bacary Sagna serves the last of his three-match ban.
Denilson has recovered from a thigh problem, while both Robin van Persie and Samir Nasri return to the squad having been rested for the midweek Carling Cup defeat at Ipswich.
Midfielder Abou Diaby (calf), goalkeeper Manuel Almunia (ankle), Abou Diaby (calf) and centre-back Thomas Vermaelen (Achilles) remain out.
West Ham forward Victor Obinna is suspended after being sent off against Birmingham in the Carling Cup in midweek.
Lars Jacobsen returns after a lengthy lay-off and Danny Gabbidon is available after missing the cup tie.
Carlton Cole is also fully fit and could start against Arsenal after scoring as a substitute against Birmingham.
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